'A Christmas Carol' at HART

The Haywood Arts Regional Theater’s production of "A Christmas Carol" returns for its second year, opening Friday, Dec. 6. With a cast of 45 and a nine-piece orchestra, the show ranks as one of the region’s biggest holiday events. HART commissioned an original script and score in 2011 from Director Mark Jones and Music Director Ann Rhymer Schwabland. The two spent a year creating a piece as true to the Charles Dickens classic story as possible, and HART has invested lavishly on sets and costumes to bring the show to life.

The ghosts are the stars of the story, and in this production they are truly special. Jacob Marley appears like a floating octopus of chains and money boxes, the ghost of Christmas past appears clothed in twinkling lights, Christmas present leads a mass of carolers from scene to scene and the ghost of Christmas yet to come emerges over nine feet tall to fill the entire stage. A massive four poster bed is Scrooge’s chariot taking him from place to place, time to time.

“A Christmas Carol” has performances at the HART Theater, located at 250 Pigeon St. in Waynesville, at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 6, 7, 13, and 14 and at 3 p.m. on Dec. 8 and 15. Tickets for evening performances are $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and $8 for students. Discounted tickets to matinees are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and $6 for students. Reservations can be made by calling the HART Box Office from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday or by visiting www.harttheatre.com.